What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).

Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($457k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Killingly	Pepperell
People
Population	17,867Highest	1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Killingly and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Killingly and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S.	$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S.
	Killingly and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,139±$301Highest 19% below U.S.
	Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,871Highest 120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 149 in CT	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	—
High school in town	Killingly High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.